November 06, 2009
August 21, 2009
Colorful Tales
By now you must be thinking I've lost my mind. Versace jewelry? It's exquisite. It's expensive. And it's incredible looking.
Let's not kid ourselves here. Jewelry is not a necessity, no matter how much we covet it. Is it meaningful? Yes. But I can't say that any of it is necessary - other than a wedding ring. And even that is merely a symbol of commitment.
So now that we've agreed this is all about sensation and things we lust and want - simply because we want it. Let's continue. The Maia piece above is 18K gold with diamonds and rose-sapphires. Anyone who purchased from the line in June contributed 20% of their purchase price to Global Action for Children. A little giving, a little taking. Another collection (designed by an Italian, of course) I like is by the ever-popular Ippolita. It's the kind of brand you don't want to like because everyone else does. But you just can't help yourself. The bangles above would drive me crazy to wear (I don't like the constant noise they create), but are a thing of beauty in a photo. And like many of the works of art featured this week, they feature large colored stones and small diamonds. Although I normally don't care for bangles, I imagine I'd suffer for the sake of beauty if these appeared in a box on my lap. They are truly beautiful.
Last but not least, I love this Yurman piece. Yes...yes, I know David Yurman went out with Judith Leiber jewel encrusted swan handbags. But I can't deny that I love his work. The twisted metal. The mix of gold with silver. The bold use of color. He is the master of his niche. And while the fashion mags may say he's passe, my local Neimans has an enormous counter devoted to his creations...so he must be relevant. And I'm not ashamed to tell you that one of my absolute favorite pieces from my personal collection is a gold and silver Yurman bracelet, thick as a rope, that my husband gave me. I adore it.
And in the end that's all that matters. You should wear pieces that make you smile. Pieces that mean something to you. Pieces that make your mood shine as brightly as the metal itself. Whether that's Versace for you or just a piece you pulled out of your Cracker Jack box, it shouldn't matter. Jewels, unlike any other accessory, usually come accompanied by story of their origin. Be it an engagement, a trip abroad or personal achievement, they all carry with them a history. These are uniquely personal possessions. It is no wonder that ancient civilizations were buried in all of their finery. It defined who they were.
I wonder... what stories do your favorite pieces tell?
Posted at 06:48 AM in beauty, design, jewelry, luxury, observations | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
August 18, 2009
Natural Beauty
Imagine diamonds so pretty you could almost faint...that were sustainably obtained and had little or no environmental impact. Diamonds in the raw. That's the way Todd Reed likes his diamonds. And after seeing them, so do I.
Now before you go getting all bleary eyed thinking I've gone green, I haven't. (Unless of course you count the fact these pixels are recycled every day and no humans or plants were harmed in the process. But I'm getting off topic now.) I just hadn't seen pieces like Todd's before. They remind me of an exhibit I saw on the ancient civilization of Ur. The very first civilization known to man. Once we got beyond the velvet ropes and crowds, we were able to step up the the protected glass cases to see the adornments and jewels created by these Sumerians.
You might be tempted to think that what we saw was primitive at best. Truly, we were impressed. Ornate headpieces sat alongside heavily jeweled necklaces. (If you think those Vegas showgirls wear heavy headpieces, you should see some of the findings in the Ur exhibit. You'll start thanking your lucky stars your neck doesn't have to hold us such strain - even if the muscles were holding up solid gold.)
Todd's pieces are very reminiscent of these Sumerian works of art. Straightforward, elegant, natural, but completely and deliberately composed. he seems to recognize the natural beauty of the stones and the metal - without feeling the need to polish and buff them into perfection.
Posted at 05:32 PM in jewelry | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
August 17, 2009
That's Some Serious Coin
One of my favorite magazines right now is Town & Country. I adore it. They don't weigh themselves down with fussy things like the economy and the Dow.
I wouldn't call it escapist reading, necessarily. But if you are looking at the market, look at the market. But please, keep it out of my fashion and lifestyle magazines. T&C cooperates nicely with my desire for compartmentalization. This magazine is for those who take their leisure and their jetset lifestyle seriously. It is, bar none, my favorite glossy.
A month or so ago the issue was dedicated almost entirely to jewelry. It was there that I discovered Roberto Coin. His pieces are beautiful. What I loved most about him, however, were the things he shared in an interview.
He is self taught.
He believes you are either both with creativity or you are not.
He believes that design school teaches oyu to design things you've seen. To produce.
To be a creator, he asserts, is the true gift. The ability to create that which has not yet been seen.
And in true fashion, he credits his Italian genes to much of this innate sense of style and creativity. And while his pieces don't at first glance appear to me groundbreaking designs, there is a certain newness to them. A level of detail you don't quite expect. The trademark jewel hidden or inset somewhere into the design. It's marvelous, really.
I happen to agree with Roberto, by the way. You can't teach someone to have an eye for design. I've been in classes with many who wanted so desperately to be creative visually, but it just wasn't in them. True, they could learn to master certain skills...but the best creativity spills forth like a fountain that cannot be stopped. It comes from the heart, not the hands.
And I suspect that's exactly the way Mr. Coin designs... from the heart.
Posted at 04:03 PM in coolfinding, designers, jewelry, luxury | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
August 16, 2009
Stacked
Lately there seems to be a proliferation of innovative jewelry designers. New spins on old classics, exotic accents, over-the-top opulence. Recession? What recession? If recent designs are any indication, the accessories market is hotter than ever.
This week is going to be all about jewelry. Baubles, bracelets, bangles, earrings, pretty things. These beauties? Stacking Rings by Asha and the even prettier Stacking Bracelets. Stunning, no?
Posted at 05:00 PM in jewelry | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
August 14, 2009
Pull Up a Chair, This May Take a While
This week the topic focus was on beautiful printed goods. Be it paper, posters, artwork, stationary... artistic paper is worthy of celebration.
The image above is a clue as to the two topics I'll be covering before the month ends. It features Barbara Barry's exquisite Bracelet Chair for Henredon. Is that not the prettiest chair you've seen in ages? The photo jumped out at me from this month's MetHome magazine. Deeeelish! And the fabric is actually a Barry-designed textile available through Kravet. (At this moment I'm shaking my head and smiling at the ever-prolific Barry. Designers like her don't come around often. But when they do, we should all stand back and watch her craft her web of fabulousity.)
So... what are the topics? Next week is all about jewelry. Bracelets, baubles, bangles, bling... call it what you will. I've been uncovering some of the prettiest pieces available and I'm itching to share them with you. My advice? Freeze your Amex in a block of ice this weekend, because some of my discoveries are irresistable!
The following week we will go chair hunting together. Armchairs, side chairs, low-slung, outdoor... it doesn't matter. We'll talking fabulous seating and that's all that matters. Get ready to drool over some of the beautiful options on the market today.
Until then... have a fantastic weekend. I'm takinga few days off to play in the sun and rediscover my inner Zen. I'll catch you back here next week. Ciao a tutti!
{I'm not the only one drooling over the Bracelet chair. Check out Patrick's terrific post on the iconic designer.}
Posted at 02:12 PM in beauty, celebrities, coolfinding, designers, fabulousness, interior design, jewelry, leisure, style | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Barbara Barry, bling, bracelets, chairs, designers, Henredon, jewels, Kravet, textiles
August 03, 2009
The Duchess and Her Majesty
The jewelry designers at J Crew are nothing short of amazing. These are positively stunning!
Posted at 08:27 AM in jewelry | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
April 12, 2009
Tightly Woven
My wrist has never felt so naked. It serves me right for going back through my emails from Vivre. Blammo! Here is this beauty staring up at me like my long lost best friend. And the product description does nothing to sate my (now newly awakened) need for this bracelet. It begins like a novel, "Like a luminous molten lattice..." or a J. Peterman catalogue.
This woven beauty is by Kara Ross, gemologist and designer of jewelry and handbags. I'll be darned if she isn't just the cutest thing you've ever seen. In case you don't know her luxury brand, she won the FGI Rising Star Accessories Award in 2008.
I'll admit, I didn't know anything about her until I chased down this bracelet. But I love her style philosophy:
What do you think your pieces to communicate to those who wear them? What story do they tell?
I think that my pieces communicate modern elegance with an appreciation for the past and the world around me. Every where I go, foreign or domestic, I try and explore vintage stores, flea markets, bazaars (if they have any), and museums. Fashion to me is about incorporating all that I see and enjoy.
How do you imagine the woman that wears your collections?
A woman with an independent and unique sense of style, classic yet willing to take risks and stand out.
Makes me want that lovely molten latticework piece even more. For more on Kara, check out kararossny.com. I'm betting you'll soon be a fan as well.
Posted at 03:43 PM in jewelry | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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